Tag Archives: play gym

Owning birds can often make one much more creative. Seriously, you find ways to use things to make into fun playthings for your birds. Do you agree? Whether it is clean packing material, an empty box or…..a commercial clothing rack! A while ago, years actually, a good friend of mine, who has established a great non-profit, Treasures 4 Teachers, check it out – http://www.treasures4teachers.org gave me a clothing rack to use for an upcoming non-profit yard sale. She told me I could keep it. I have looked at this thing for years trying to figure out a way to make it into a perch for the gang. I would start on it, stop; re-examine or recalculate and try again. Thankfully, I have a talented handyman husband who is invaluable in these matters.

The first order of business was to shorten it. So it was cut and holes were drilled in the base to add pins to hold it. (Sorry, I don’t have any pics of it at its original height.) I repainted it and viola!

The next challenge was the top. My hubby, Matt, made a wood base to set on top of the metal frame, but we still needed something to cover it. I found a sheet of Formica at Habitat for Humanity for $3.00. We glued it – many times. Please keep in mind this was my first attempt at formica- it’s not the prettiest, but it works. Once the top was fitted and secured the fun began. I love making perches using natural wood in its natural form. Here in Arizona we have the luxury of many different kinds of trees, orange, grapefruit, manzanita, eucalyptus, palm, etc. I recently had taken apart another taller perch so I again recycled and added other pieces.

Here it is! (Sorry about the background slightly obscuring your view.) Now all I need is to add a few birdies! (The handyman is on the left in the pic.)

I may not be done with it, but it is working out great so far. I will be starting on another perch shortly. I have found that I prefer having play gyms/perches taller so my doggies cannot get at the base. Does anyone else have doggies that think bird poop is delicious?